Book Thoughts discussion

We have 3 books for August's BOTMs:


1. Our Poll Winner: Literary Fiction: Kin by Tayari Jones
2. Police Procedural: Made a Killing by Zach Abrams
3. Urban Fantasy: Stray Magic by Kelly Meding

I have just procured my copy of Made a Killing, and I am looking forward to starting it this weekend and seeing what other members of the group think of it over the next month.

Alan wrote: "I have just procured my copy of Made a Killing, and I am looking forward to starting it this weekend and seeing what other members of the group think of it over the next month."

I've had a copy on my kindle since 2018 so I'm looking forward to finally reading and reviewing it, as well as seeing what others think.

Got myself a copy of Made a Killing - finally gonna try to join in on the BOTM discussions.

Arnar wrote: "Got myself a copy of Made a Killing - finally gonna try to join in on the BOTM discussions."

Welcome to the discussion, Arnar.

Alan and Arnar, starting Made a Killing at roughly the same point should make the monthly discussion more interesting because first impressions can develop side by side. A police procedural also gives the group plenty to compare beyond the solution: pacing, investigative logic, and whether the characters make the evidence feel consequential.

Here are some character and relationship trivia questions for Kin by Tayari Jones. Can anyone answer them yet?

1. What term do Vernice and Annie use to describe their lifelong friendship because they were raised together from birth?

2. How did Vernice lose her mother when she was an infant?

3. What is the name of Annie’s mother, who abandoned her when she was a child?

4. Who is the fierce aunt that raises Vernice in a stable home after her family tragedy?

Here are some trivia questions for Made a Killing by Zach Abrams. Can anyone answer them yet?

1. Who serves as Alex Warren’s primary detective sidekick and partner throughout the investigation?

2. In which Scottish city is the novel primarily set?

3. The investigation begins when the body of what kind of character is discovered dead?

4. What looming figure from Alex’s personal life continuously disrupts his attempt at a new romance during the investigation?

I have a signed copy of Kin that I’m looking forward to reading. I’ll probably start reading it later next week.

JoJo_theDodo wrote: "I have a signed copy of Kin that I’m looking forward to reading. I’ll probably start reading it later next week."

I haven't started reading the BOTMs yet, but plan to get them read this month.

Here is my 3.97 rounded to 4 stars review of Stray Magic by Kelly Meding:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Urban Fantasy / Supernatural Crime Thriller
Good worldbuilding, great characterization
Action-packed and suspenseful scenes, investigations, and a few emotional scenes
The opening scene is not like the rest of the book.
Some expletives

Here is my 3.16 rounded to 3 stars review of Made a Killing by Zach Abrams:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Police Procedural
Atmospheric, gritty, believable motivations
Overly descriptive - too much tell versus show
Somewhat too easy to discern the killer

Has anyone else read any of the BOTMs yet?